Mattress sewing table



April 2, 1963 J. A. CASH, SR 3,033,654

MATTRESS SEWING TABLE Filed Jan. 8, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 \BOTTOM FACEPANEL 5e FIG.2

IN VEN TOR.

JAMES A. CASH,SR.

BY (mam:

ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 J. A. cAsI-I, SR 3,083,654

MATTRESS SEWING TABLE Filed Jan. 8, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 TABLE TOPFIXED CENTER LEAF 23 I8 2| 22 2e 2e 24 25 I8 SUPPORT FRAMES as WHEEL asI T l9 43 40 32 PRIMARY LINK 34 H SIDE MARGINAL SECTION 6 o I9 I g8 I asFIXED LEAF g Y as EEIII 31 I LEVER MOTOR 27 HINGED LEAFgg l5 PRIMARY ILINK /-IO 49 -Io 4a 2e 15 I I I9 3? 43 5| I 47 I Pg ggNTER 5 o 50SECONDARY HEEL3 I I HINGE 2e INK 40 LEVER 27 39 l HINGED LEAF 21 I or-SUPPORT I FRAME 9 FIxEo LEAF 5 ll I9 g SIDE MARGINAL SECTION FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

JAMES A. CASH, SR.

ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 J. A. CASH, SR

MATTRESS SEWING TABLE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INTERMEDIATE 1 2 SECTION MOTOR 47I 6 ,ss "R )i I Ft: "3

1 53 \INTERMEDIATE LEAF LEVER 2? 47 u 50 0 'CRANKWHEEL E F |G.6

6\\\(/(/ III! H zz \V/ i F -u x E]; 27\ 2| l3 1 u FIG 5 INVENTOR.

JAMES A. CASH,SR.

BY: W

ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 J. A. CASH, SR

MATTRESS SEWING TABLE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 8, 1960 INVENTOR.JAMES A. cAsH,sR. BY 3 ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 J. A. CASH, SR

MATTRESS SEWING TABLE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 8. 1960 JIGJIINVENTOR. JAMES A. CA$H,$R- BY d Mr ATTORNEY Ap 2, 1963 J. A. CASH, SR

MATTRESS SEWING TABLE Filed Jan. 8. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.JAMES A. cAsH,sR. BY G en/M ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 J. A. CASH, SR

MATTRESS sswmc TABLE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 8, 1960 INVENTOR JAMESA. CASH, SR.

ATTORNEY .IIG. l8

April 2, 1963 J. A. CASH, SR

MATTRESS SEWING TABLE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 8, 1960 INVENTOR.

JAMES A. GASH,SR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2, i963 MATTRESS SEWENG TABLE James A. Cash, Sn,Louisville, Ky, assignor to .lames Cash Machine (30., Louisville, Ky, acorporation of Kentucky Filed Jan. d, 1%6, Ser. No. 2,322 2 Qlaims. (U.112-3) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication, S.N. 773,368, filed Nov. 12, 1958, now abandoned.

in covering mattresses, the conventional practice comprises: (1)covering the bottom and peripheral border faces of the mattress with ashallow pan-like cloth cover, having a bottom face panel and a borderpanel sewn together along the bottom edge of the mattress; and then (2)closing the mattress by sewing a top face panel to the border panelalong the top edge of the mattress.

The closing operation is less difficult to perform along the first twoedges of the mattress because the top face panel is relaxed but itbecomes progressively more difiicult to perform along the last two edgesbecause the operator must now stretch the top face panel tightly acrossthe mattress and hold it in this tightly stretched condition while heconducts the sewing operation in order to end up with a mattress havingits top face panel tightly stretched to a smooth unwrinkled condition.in closing a full mattress, the operator must initially pull, push orotherwise manipulate it into an approximately centered position whereinits upper peripheral edge usually is inaccurately aligned with the pathof the sewing head. In closing a smaller mattress, he must firstmanually manipulate it into one position, which is ofiset toward oneside of the table, and then manually shift and manipulate it intoanother position, which is offset toward the other side of the table.The energy and care required by the closing operation necessitates theuse of highly skilled labor, subjects that labor to fatigue and slowsdown production time.

The principal object of this invention is to overcome one or more of theforegoing difliculties in closing a mattress and, more particularly,substantially reduce the energy, care and skill required in theperformance of the mattress cover-closing operation, lessen thepossibility of fatigue and speed up the operation generally.

Another important object is to provide a method of and a means forsupporting a mattress during the closing operation which eliminates thenecessity of stretching the stop face panel and yet insures theproduction of a closed mattress havin its top face panel tightly stretchto a smooth unwrinkled condition.

Another important object is to provide a mattress cover closing tablecapable of achieving the foregoing objectives with mattresses ofdifierent sizes.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide aneasier, quicker and more accurate way of centering any mattress in itsfirst operative position on the table.

Another important object is to provide an easier, quick or and moreaccurate way of shifting and centering an undersized mattress in itssecond ofiset position even while the mattress remains in its elevatedposition.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a simpleand effective selectively-operable means for actuating the mattresssewing apparatus in a manner allowing the operator to remain adjacentthe carriage throughout the mattress closing operation.

Bnoadly speaking, the first aspect of my invention resides in theconcept of performing the closing operation while the mattress issupported in a sagging condition so that its top face panel may berelaxed throughout the entire closing operation. By elevating allmargins of the mattress and leaving its center sag, it becomesunnecessary to stretch the top face panel during the closing operationbut, at the end of that operation, when the mattress is allowed toflatten out, it will automatically stretch the top face panel into asmooth unwrinkled condition.

In carrying out this aspect of my invention, I propose to support amattress, during the cover closing operation, by means of a table topcomposed of relatively elevated sections which are arranged to engagethe bottom face margins of a mattress placed thereover and, through suchengagement, to support said mattress in a sagging condition. Preferably,the table top sections are hinged for movement from a horizontalposition in which they cooperate to provide a flat-facedmattresseupporting surface to a relatively upwardly inclined position inwhich they engage said mattress marginally and support it in a saggingcondition.

For use in closing a full-sized mattress, the table may be provided witha hinged section along each of its four margins. In order to accommodatemattresses of the same length but smaller width, it is only necessary toprovide a pair of hinged intermediate sections paralleling the marginalside sections with one intermediate section cooperating with onemarginal side section to support the mattress on one side of the tableand with the other intermediate section cooperating with the othermarginal side section to support the mattress on the other side of thetable.

The second aspect of my invention resides broadly in the concept ofperforming the mattress centering and shifting operations mechanically.The mechanical performance of these operations makes it easily andquickly possible to center each full mattress accurately in itscentrally disposed operative position on the table and to center anundersized mattress accurately in each of its ofiset positions and toshift it quickly from one offset position to the other. Furthermore, itbecomes possible for the operator to institute and control all of thesemechanical operations from the carriage.

In carrying out the mattress centering and shifting as pects of myinvention, 1 provide the apparatus (a) with spaced mattress centeringmeans mounted on the table and operable, when actuated, to move from anout-of-the-way position to a relatively raised centering position duringwhich movement they cooperatively engage the border of a mattress andpush it into a centered position; (b) with shifting means mounted on thetable and operable, when actuated, to push an undersized mattress acrossthe table from its first offset position to its second offset position;and (c) multi-control means mounted on the carriage and arranged forselective operation, first, at the starting end of the table, to actuatethe mattress raising means and the centering means so as to raise andcenter either a full sized mattress in its operative position or anundersized mattress in its first offset position, and second, at theother or shifting end of the table, to actuate the shifting means topush an undersized mattress from its first offset position to its secondoffset position and to actuate the means required to center and supportsuch mattress in its second offset position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a mattress sewing table constructed inaccordance with my invention, this View showing a mattress supported onthe table and a tape edge-sewing machine supported on the tracksurrounding it;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section corresponding to one taken on line 22 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the mattress sewing table;

starting and mattress shifting ends'of the table at the lower left andupper right respectively;

FIG. is a starting end elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG.9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the table top structure; FIG. 12 is asection taken along line -1212 of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is an enlargedfragmentary section taken on line 13-43 of FIG. 11, this viewillustrating the mattress shifting mechanism with the mattress shiftingleaf shown in full lines at the end of its inwardly extended mattressshifting movement and shown in dotted lines in its upwardly andoutwardly inclined mattress-supporting position;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the controlpedals on the carriage in relation to the starting end of the table;

FIG. 15 is a section taken along line 1515 of FIG. 14 but omitting thepedal nearest the table to show the underlying pedal operated mechanismon the carriage and the co-operating mechanism on the table structure;

FIG. 16 is a section taken along line 1616 of FIG.14;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 17-17 of FIG.13;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of the table leaf operating system, thisview including a cut-way top plan view of the table leaves to show therelationship between the 7 operating system and the leaves;

FIG. 19 is an elevational view of the mattress shifting end of thetable, this view being partly broken to Show a modified form of mattressshifting mechanism;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 19 with theupper portion of the table top and carriage omitted, the lower portionof the carriage'being shown at the starting end of the table; and 7 FIG.21 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the carriage in' operativerelationship to the modified form of mattress shifting mechanism.

APPARATUS OF FIGS. 1-7

The mattress sewing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 includes: arectangular base; a sewing machine mounted on the base for travel alongan endless rectangular path extending along the rectangular periphery ofthe base; a mattress supporting table locatedwithin said path andmounted on the base, said table having hinged'leaves; and operatingmeans for said'leaves.

Base

carriage, also designated. 5, movably supported on the upper and lowertrackways 1 and 2; a sewing head 6 adjustably mounted on top of thecarriage; and a motor.

7 mounted on the carriage 5 and operatively connected not only to thecarriage for moving it about thebase but also to the sewing heade foractuating it during the sewing operation.

4 Table V The mattress sewing table includes: a support frame; and atable top mounted on the frame and having hinged marginal sections and acenter section including certain hinged intermediatesections.

SUPPORT FRAME The support frame 9 includes: at its top, a rectangularframe, also designated, 9, theunderside of which is seen in FIG. 3; apair of horizontal cross braces 10 bridging the space between thelongitudinal sides of the rectangular support frame 9 at intermediatelocations; and a plurality of vertical legs 11, one extending downwardlyfrom each corner of the support frame 9 and mounted on the base 1 ,forvertical adjustment. The means for adjustably mounting the legs 11 isnot shown as it is conventional and is not a part of this invention.

TABLE TOP The table top .13 includes a plurality of sections overlyingthe top of the rectangular support frame 9. These sections include: arectangular center section; and four surrounding marginal sections 14 to17, onefor each side or end edge of the center section. Each marginalsection is pivoted to the adjacent edge of the center section formovement between a collapsed position, in which ti 'is horizontallyaligned with the center section, and a raised or. elevated position, inwhich it is inclined upwardly andoutwardly from the marginal edges ofthecenter section.

MARGINAL SECTIONS The marginal sections include two end edge leaves 14and 15 and two side edge leaves 16 and 17. These leaves are pivoted bythe hinges 13 to the adjacent side and end edges of the center sectionof the table. Each of the leaves 14 to 17 is mitered at its oppositeends, as seen in FIG. 3. The adjacent mitered ends, of each pair ofleaves at each corner of the table,.are separated, in their horizontalpositions, by a small gap providing sutficient clearance 'for the leavesto be raised to their inclined CENTER SECTION The center section of thetable 13 is composed .of a

transverse. succession of five longitudinalleaves 21 to 25,.

which extend lengthwise in parallel relationship on .the frame 9 withtheir adjacent side edgesnarrowly spaced, as seen in FIG. 5. The oddnumbered-leavesofthis suc cession, namely, the two outer leaves 21 and25, and the.

center leaf 23, are stationary and fixed to the tableframe 9. The othertwo -intermediate leaves 22 and .24'are pivoted by hinges 26 to theopposite. side edges of. the center leaf '23.

The intermediate'hinged leaves 22 and. 24are .arranged in .the centersection so that they may be alternately '7 raised to an upwardlyinclined; position to aid in supporting a smaller mattress, suchasatwinsize mattress, at different times onoppositesides of the table.Thisalternate' use of the leaves.22 and 24 is illustratedin FIGS. 6 and7.

,An individual operating lever 27 is fired to the bottom face ofeach ofthe intermediate hinged leaves 22 and; 7 24. These levers 27 function,when appropriately moved,

to raise and lower the leaves 22 and 2 4.

Operating Means The operating means for the leaves includes: means forraising and lowering the marginal sections of the top; and means forraising and lowering the intermediate sections of the top.

MEANS FOR RAISING AND IJOWERING MARGINAL LEAVES The marginal leaves 14to 17 are raised and lowered by a mechanism, which, as seen in FIG. 3,includes: an electric motor 3%) mounted on a plate 31 fixed to thebottom of the table frame 9; and a mechanism interconnecting the motor39 with the levers l9 fixed to the lower faces of the leaves 14 to 17.The interconnecting mechanism, proceeding from the motor 36 to thelevers 19, includes: a pinion 32 fixed to the shaft of the motor 38; agear 33 rotationally driven by the pinion 32; a primary link 34 havingone end eccentrically pivoted on the gear '53 and its other endeccentrically pivoted to a spoked wheel 36; and individual secondarylinks 37 to 40 interconnected between the outer ends of separate spokesof the wheel 36 and individual levers 19.

The small pinion 32 and large gear 33 act as a simple gear reducingmechanism. The eccentric connection of the link 3 to the gear 33, whichcauses the link 34 to reciprocate when the gear is rotated, is or" theball and socket type allowing a universal pivoting movement.

The spoked wheel 36 is mounted on a suitable bearing axle, which isfixed to and depends from a table cross brace 19. The wheel lid iscomposed of bars crossing at right angles to each other to form spokesof equal length. A horizontal flange .3 is fixed to one of the wheelspokes and connected to the end of the primary link 34-. Ohviously, thereciprocation of the link 34, will oscillate the wheel 36 back andforth. The connection between the link 34 and wheel 36 is of a pin-slottype allowing the magnitude of the angular movement of the oscillatingwheel to be adjustably varied and also of a type allowing a universalmovement of this end of the link 34, the same as the pivot on. the otherend thereof.

The secondary links 37 to it are adjustable in length and are alsomounted on pivots at their opposite ends providing a universal movement.The rotation of the *spoked wheel 36 moves the secondary linkssimultaneously and, therefore, raises or lowers the marginal leaves 14to 17 simultaneously through their respective operating evers l9.

MEANS FOR RAISING AND LGWERING INTERMEDIATE LEAVES As best seen in FIGS.57, the power means for operating the intermediate leaves 22 and 24includes: an electric motor .7 fixed on a plate 43 welded to a tablecross brace 1i and a mechanism interconnecting motor 47 with both levers27 so that the intermediate leaves 22 and 24 can be alternately raised.This interconnecting mechanism includes: a crank wheel 49 fiXed to theshaft of the motor 47; a lird: 5t? eccentrically pivoted at one end tothe crank wheel 49; and a bridge plate 51 pivoted to the other end oflink 5%, the plate being connected at its opposite ends to the levers27.

Each end of the bridge plate 51 has a horizontal slot 52 to receive apin 53, which is fixed to the levers 27 and arranged to extend throughand slide in these slots. The slots 52 are located so that when both ofthe leaves 22 and 24 are horizontal, as seen in FIG. 5, both of the pins53 are at the inner ends of their respective slots. As indicated inFIGS. 5-7, movement of the bridge plate 51 in the right direction,transverse of the leaves 22 and 24, raises the right leaf 22 whilemovement in the left direction, raises the left leaf 24.

Operation At some time prior to the operation of the FIG. 1 apparatus, apartially formed mattress cover, having, as indicated in FIG. 2, abottom face-panel 56 and a border panel 57 sewn together along theiradjacent edges, is applied over a mattress 55. Then this mattress isplaced on the table with its uncovered face uppermost. In completing themattress-covering operation, a top face-panel 59 is placed over theuncovered face of the mattress and its edges are sewn to the adjacentedges of the border panel.

The conventionally rolled edges 58 and 60 of the mattress 55 are similarto each other. The rolled edge 60 is formed by overlapping the edge ofthe top face-panel 59 and the upper edge of the border panel 57 to forman outwardly extending flange, applying a longitudinally folded tape 61progressively over these overlapped edges to sandwich them between itsfolded portions and simultaneously sewing the resulting four-layerassembly together with a seam 62.

At the start of the operation, we assume that all of the pivoted leavesof the table top 13 are down in horizontal positions and that the sewingmachine 5 and mattress 55 are ready for the closing operation.

With a full size mattress 55, only the marginal (side and end) leaves 14to 17 are raised. This is done by energizing the motor 39 to rotate thespoked wheel 36 counterclockwise, as seen in FIG. 3, and thereby pushthe secondary links 37 to 44 outwardly. This moves the lower ends of thelevers l9 outwardly and such movement swings the marginal leaves totheir respective inclined positions as seen in FIG. 4. in this position,the bottom face margins of the mattress 55 are engaged and raised by themarginal leaves while the center of the mattress sags downwardlynormally remaining on the center section of the table.

The operator pulls the adjacent edges of the top face panel 59 and theborder panel 57 into the sewing machine head 6 and proceeds to sew therolled edge 60 progressively around the mattress. Due to the sag in themattress 55, the top face panel 59 is loose and relaxed thus relievingthe operator of the necessity of stretching it as the rolled edge 6-8 isstretched.

When the rolled edge 60 is completed, the operator energizes the motor3% in the opposite direction to rotate the spoked wheel 36 clockwise anddrop the leaves 14 to 17 simultaneously to their respective horizontalpositions. The ensuing movement of the mattress 55 to a flat positionstretches the top face panel 5? of the cover to a smooth condition.

The table is designed to handle smaller size mattresses such as a twinsize mattress 65. To start this operation, a twin size mattress 65 isplaced on the table with one of its side margins lying on one or theother of the side marginal leaves 16 (or 17) and its other side marginlocated on a corresponding intermediate hinged leaf 24 (or 22).

The motor 38 is now energized to raise all of the marginal leaves '14 to1'7 simultaneously but only three of them (two ends and one side) arebrought into engagement with the corresponding margins of the mattress.To engage the remaining side margin of this mattress, the motor 47 isenergized to move the bridge plate 51 to the left, as seen in FIG. 5,and thereby raise the left intermediate hinged leaf 24. The operator cannow proceed to sew three margins, one after the other, namely, one endmargin, one side margin and the other end margin.

Thereafter, the motors 3t) and 47 are energized to drop the raisedmarginal and intermediate leaves, the mattress 65 moved across the tableto place its unsewn side margin over intermediate section 22 and motor39 and 47 again operated to raise the margin al leaves and the rightintermediate leaf 22. The unsewn edge of mattress 65 is now held in anelevated position by the marginal section 17. As soon as this edge issewn, all table leaves are again dropped to their respective horizontalpositions. Once again, the flattening of the mattress 65 will stretchthe top face panel to a very taut and smooth condition.

- MODIFICATION OF FIG. 8

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified mechanismfor raising the marginal leaves14to 17 in which the electric motor 30 is replaced by a fluid Operatedmotor 47a having a piston 47b, which is connected to the end of theprimary link .34. a The motor 47a may beoperated by either a pneumaticor hydraulic fluid. Along this same line, the motor v4-7 for operatingthe intermediate hinged leaves 22 and 24 may be replaced by asuitablefluid operated motor.

An apparatus of the FIG. 8 type with mechanical centering and shiftingmeans on the table and selectively operable controls on the carriage isillustrated and described in FIGS. 9-18.

APPARATUS OF FIGS. 9-18 This apparatus comprises: (1) the samerectangular base; (2) thesame sewing machine with its carriage and drivemodified; (3) the same hinged leaf table; (4) a mattress centering meansmounted on the jhinged leaves of the table; (5) mattress shifting meansmounted on the table; (6) operating means mounted onthe table foractuation from the starting end thereof to raise a full size mattress toand support it in a central elevated position and, when handling annndersize mattress, for actuation first, from thestarting end thereof,to raise the undersize mattress to and center and support it in oneelevated offset position and second, from the shifting end thereof, toshift the undersize mattress to and center and support it in its otherelevated offset position; and (7) selectively-operable multicontrolmeans mounted on the carriage for actuating said operating means.

Base

form 5A fixed to the bottom of'carriage 5 and extending forwardly andoutwardly from its front or leading wall.

The motorized drive means has been modified. to include a reversibledrive motor connected operatively through afirst or"-rnotor clutch notonly to the carriage drive means, which contains a second or carriageclutch but also to the sewing machine drive means which contains a thirdor sewing head clutch.

The three clutches thus provided .in the driving means enables theoperator to open all three clutches, start the motor in theforwardtravel direction or reverse it and let it idle. By closing thecarriage clutch, he can move it around the table in the desireddirection to the. point where sewing is to start. Here he can institutethe sewing operation, whenever desired, simply by closing the sewinghead clutch. The specific details of the preferred form ofcarr-iage anddriving means are not shown here are shown in my copending jointapplication S.N.' 812,940, filed May v13, 19.59,, to which referencemaybe had.

Rectangular Table Thertable remains the same, hence includes: thesupport frame parts 9-11; marginal section leaves 14-17, each having anoperating lever 19; and center section parts 21-25,-including hingedintermediate leaves 22 and 24, each with an operating lever 27. Forpurposes of convenience in further describing'this embodiment, the

marginal leaves aredesignated south, west, north and eastmarginalleaves, respectively, starting at the lower end of the table,.asseen in FIGS. v9 and 18, and proceeding clockwise around it. Hence, themarginalleaves will include the south. marginal leaf 14, which is at thestarting end of the table, the west marginal leaf 16, the north marginalleaflS, which is at the shifting end of the table,

7 and the east marginal leaf 17.

Mattress Centering Means InaccQrdancewith my invention, each hingedleaf14-17, 22 and 24 is provided with one or more center ing members mountedfor movement from anout-of-thethe leaf and preferably along the upperface plane of its outer free edge. Each bar or flange 70 is hingedlymounted on its leaf for movement between its out-of-the way and itsraised or centering positions. As some of these centering members 70move upwardly, they may normally be expected to engage the border of amattress and push it in the direction of the oppositely disposedcentering members 70, which cooperate with the flanges, 7 doing theactual pushing to grip or clamp the mattress in its centered positionand restrain it from moving beyond the centered position. 'Eachcentering flange carries an operating lever 71 depending from its underside.

Mattress Shifting Means In the preferred embodiment of my invention, theshifting of an undersized mattress is efiected by mechanically pushingthat mattress sidewise from one offset position to the other. Preferablythis is done with the mattress in its raised position so that its endmargins slide upon the upper margins of the end marginal leaves 14, 15.this movement may be variously accomplished, it is preferably done byswinging west marginal leaf 16 inwardlv toward the other east marginalleaf 17 and continuing :this swinging movementuntil the undersizedmattress,

such as twin-sized mattress 65,.reaches its other. offset.

position wherein its corresponding side margin is supported on said eastmarginal leaf 17.

Accordingly, the mattress shifting west marginal leaf 16 is arranged forswinging movement from its outwardly extending, upwardly-inclined ornormal raised position through the vertical plane of its hinges to aninwardly-extcnding ,upwardly-inclined position corresponding to theshifted position of'the mattress and provided, on its under side, withanother operating lever 73 for' actuating it through its mattressshifting movement.

Operating Means when activated, [to raise the first intermediate leafand operate the centering means associated therewith, said firstoperating means being arranged for inactivation 7 from the shifting endof .the table so as to lower the first intermediate leaf and inactivateits centering means; and

(3) a third operating means arrangedfor activation from the shifting endof the table, whenthe second operating means is inactivated, and beingoperative, when activated, first to shift the mattress and, when themattress is shifted,

next to raise the second intermediate leaf and operate the centering.means associated with it, said third operating means being arranged forinactivation from the starting end of the table.

FIRST OPERATING MEANS The first operating means comprises: ('1) marginalraising means operative, when energized, to raise all four marginalleaves 14 to 17 and the mattress centering means associated therewith;and (2 marginal valve means ar-' 7 ranged for actuation from thestarting end of the table While and operative, when actuated, toenergize the marginal raising means.

Marginal raising means.The marginal raising means includes: a marginalcylinder; a marginal linkage mechanism operably interconnecting themarginal cylinder with each of the four marginal leaves 14 to 17; andfour marginal centering cylinders, one mounted on each marginal leaf.

Marginal cylinder.The marginal cylinder 75 moves between a retractedposition, wherein the marginal leaves 14 to 17 are lowered to horizontalpositions, and an extended position, wherein the marginal leaves aresimultaneously raised to their outwardly and upwardly inclinedpositions. Preferably, the cylinder 75 is pneumatically operated. It maybe a cylinder of the doubleacting type as shown in FIG. 8, but itpreferably is of the single action type, with its extension beingaccomplished by air pressure and its retraction by an internal spring.It is mounted on the table frame 9 under the table top at a suitableposition for operative connection to the marginal linkage.

l'rlarginal linkage.The marginal linkage operatively interconnects themarginal cylinder 75 with the operating levers 19 of the marginal leaves14 to 17. This linkage is essentially the same as that used in theembodiments of FIGS. 1 to 7 and FIG. 8 with certain modifications. Itincludes, proceeding from the marginal cylinder 75 to the levers .19, aprimary link 34 connected to the outer end of the cylinder piston rod75, a four-spoked wheel 36 pivoted to the table frame 9 to rotate in ahorizontal plane under the table top with one spoke being pivoted to theother end of the primary link 34, and respective secondary links 37 to49 connected between respective spokes of the wheel 36 and the levers19.

The linkage in the present embodiment is modified, as compared to thatshown in the earlier embodiments, by having a socket 34- at an end ofthe primary link 34 which loosely fits over and seats on the outer endof the piston rod 75' of the marginal cylinder 75. This provides a jointbetween the piston rod 75 and primary link 34 which automaticallyseparates under the application of a tension or pulling force to thatjoint. During the dropping of the marginal leaves and the retraction ofthe marginal cylinder, should the leaves be restrained from dropping,this joint separates and keeps the retraction force of the cylinder 75from pulling the leaves down. In addition to protecting the table frombeing damaged, this is a safety feature. If anyone should accidentallyget their hands pinched under the marginal leaves, between them and theframe 9, the primary link 34 simply separates from the cylinder 75 andthe pinched hmds will normally not be seriously injured as the onlyforce resting on them is the weight of the leaves.

All of the secondary links are pivoted to their respective operatinglevers l? with the exception of the secondary link 38 connected to thewest marginal leaf to. The connection between this link 38 and its lever19 is a separable connection to allow the west marginal leaf 16 to beswung upward through its mattress shifting movement. This separableconnection is provided by the outer end of the link 38 being bent to aright angle portion 76 and seating this bent portion 76 in a notch inits lever 19. To keep the link 38 from dropping during its separationfrom its lever 19, it slides in a guide ring 77 fixed on the table frame9.

Marginal centering cylinders-The centering cylinder 79 of each marginalleaf 14 to 17 raises and lowers its mattress centering flange 70 betweeninoperative and centering positions simultaneously with the raising andlowering of the marginal leaves 14- to 17. Each centering cylinder 79 ismounted on the under side of its respective marginal leaf adjacent theoperating lever 71 for the flange 70 of that particular leaf and isconnected to the lever 71 by a link 84), which is pivoted at itsopposite ends to the cylinder 7? and to the lever 71, respectively. The

extension of the cylinder 79 lifts the flange 7t) upwardly to itsmattress centering position and its retraction drops the flange to anoutwardly-extending inoperative position aligned with its leaf.Preferably, the cylinder 79 is pneumatically actuated and of the typewhereby air pressure extends its piston and an internal spring retractsit, the same type as the preferred form of marginal cylinder 75.

Marginal valve means-The marginal valve means includes: a marginal valvecontrolling the extension and retraction of the marginal cylinder 75 andall four marginal centering cylinders 79'; and a marginal valveoperating assembly mounted on the table frame for cooperation withcontrols mounted on the carriage 5.

Marginal valve.-The marginal valve 82, as seen in H6. 18, is a twoposition valve operable between an exhaust position, in which itexhausts the marginal cylinder 75 and the marginal centering cylinders79 to atmosphere, and a pressure position, wherein it feeds air pressureto these cylinders. t is connected on one side to a suitable airpressure source 83 by a supply air line 84 and on its other side to amarginal air line 35 having connections with the marginal cylinder 75and with each of the marginal centering cylinders 79. In its exhaustposition, it disconnects the supply air line 84 from the marginal airline 85, while connecting the latter to an exhaust port in its casing.In its pressure position, it connects t e supply line 84 to the marginalair line 85, while blocking the exhaust port. The structure of themarginal valve 82 is conventional and includes an operating plunger 82'which is biased outward by an internal spring to the exhaust position ofthe valve and movable inwardly (downwardly as seen in FIG. 18) to thepressure position.

Marginal valve operating assembly.This assembly is mounted on the tableat its starting end and is actuated by control means mounted on thecarriage 5 to operate the marginal valve 32. It includes a marginalvalve mounting means; a marginal valve rocker; and three frame mountedhinged flaps for rocking the marginal valve rocker from the carriagemounted controls.

Marginal valve mounting means.The marginal valve 82 is mounted at thestarting end of the table, intermediate the floor and the table top, ona vertical plate 87 fastened to a pair of horizontal bars 88 extendingbetween the inner edges of the corner posts 3 at that end of thetala'le. It is located with its plunger 82. at its top and projectingupwardly from it, as seen in FIG. 16.

Marginal valve rocker.The plunger 82' is actuated by a marginal valverocker fit The rocker fit! is a vertically extending member which islocated over the outer side of the marginal valve 8-2, opposite itsmounting plate 37, and is pivoted on a horizontal axis midway of itsupper and lower ends to the plate 37. The rocker 90 includes a tongue atits upper end which is bent over the top of the marginal valve 82 andcarries a cam roller 91 for engagement with the valve plunger 82. Therocker 9t rocks between a neutral vertical position wherein the camroller 91 is disengaged from the valve plunger 82', and anoutwardly-upwardly inclined position, wherein the cam 91 depresses theplunger 82' to move the marginal valve 82 to its pressure position, asseen in FIG. 16. Normally, the rocker will remain in any position towhich it is moved.

Hinged flaps-The rocker 93' is rocked on its horizontal axis by threehinged flaps which include an upper fiap 93, center flap and lower flap95. Each of the flaps 93 to 95 is an elongate horizontal bar extendingacross the starting end of the base 1 and hinged on horizontal axes tothe corner posts 3 at that end of the base. These flaps are probablybest shown in FIG. 16.

The upper flap 93 extends across the upper end of the rocker 99, ishinged along its upper edge, and swings inwardly to engage and rock theupper end of the rocker 99 inwardly, in a counter-clockwise direction asseen in FIG. 16, to its exhaust position.

The center flap 94 extends across the lower portion of the rocker 90, ishinged at its upper edge, and is located slightly inwardly of the upperflap 93. Swinging the lower edge ofvthe flap 94 inwardly engagestherocker 90 androcks its lower end inwardly to move 'the valve 82 toits pressure position. This center flap 94 is used to operate both themarginal valve 32 and another valve which is described later.

The lower flap 95 also extends across the lower end of the rocker 90below the flap 94. However, it is hinged attits lower edgeso that itsupper edge swings inwardly. It is located somewhat outwardly of thecenter fiap 94. In addition, its inner face contains a projection 96opposite the rocker 90' which engages the rocker 90 as the flap 96swings inwardly to rock the lower end of the rocker inwardly and alsomove the valve 82 to its pressure position. This lower flap 95 is usedwhen only the marginal valve 82 is to be operated.

. SECOND OPERATING MEANS The second operating means comprises: (1).firstintermediate raising means operative, when energized, to raise.

the first intermediate leat 24 and the centering means as.- sociatedtherewith; and (2) first intermediate valve means operable to neutraland first positions, said first intermediate valve means being arrangedfor actuation from the starting end of the table to its first positionand operative, when so actuated, to energize the first intermediateraising means, and arranged for return to its neutral position from theshifting, end of the table to deenergize the first intermediate raisingmeanst First intermediate raising means.--The first intermediate raisingmeans includes: a first intermediate cylinder connected to the firstintermediate leaf 24; and a first intermediate centering cylindermounted on the first intermediate leaf and connected to the firstcentering means associated with that leaf.

First intermediate cylinder.-The first intermediate cylinder 97 raisesand lowers the first intermediate leaf 24, which is the hingedintermediate leaf nearest theeast side of the table. The cylinder 97 ismounted under the table top adjacent the operating lever 27 of the firstintermediate leaf-24 and is connected to that lever by a link 98. The,link 98 is-pivoted to the lever 27 and, at its other end, has a socketfitting over the outer end of the cylinder piston rod, thus providing aseparable joint similar to that'bet-weenthe marginal cylinder 75 and theprimary link 34.

The extension of the first intermediate cylinder 97 raises the firstintermediate leaf and its retraction lowers the leaf 24. The cylinder 97is similar to the marginal cylinder 75 in that it is extended by airpressure and retracted by an internal spring. 7

First intermediate. centering cylinder.-The first intermediate centeringcylinder 79" and its mounting on the first intermediate leaf 24*is thesame as the previously described marginal centering cylinders 79. Hence,it is mounted underneath the leaf 24 adjacent the lever 71 of thecentering flange 70 of that leaf and is connected to the lever. by alink '80. The extension ofthe cylinder 79' raises the flange 70 and itsretraction lowers the flange.

First intermediate valve means.The first intermediate valve meansincludes: a first-intermediate valve controlling the extension andretraction of the first intermediate cylinder 97 and the firstintermediate centering cylinder 79; and an intermediate valve operatingassembly mounted onthe. table for cooperating with controls mounted onthe carriage.

Firstintermediate valve.The first intermediate valve 100, looking atFIG. 18, is movable between exhaust and pressure positions. Initsexhaust position, it exhausts the. first intermediate cylinder 97 andthe first intermediate centering cylinder 79' to atmosphere, .and in itspressure position, it feeds air pressure to these cylinders.

It is connected on one side to the supply air line 84,.

connected to the air pressure source 83, and on its other side to afirst intermediate airline 101 running to the includes a plunger 190'which is biased upwardly and outwardly to the exhaustposition and isdepressed inwardly to move the valve to .the pressure position.

' Intermediate valve operating assembly.This valve op-t,

erating'assembly is mounted onttheita ble and is actuated by controlmeans on the carriage and at the starting end of the table to move thefirst'intermediate valve 10010 ist pressure position and, at theshifting end of the table, .to move thevalve w its exhaustposition. Thismeans comprises: an intermediate valve mounting means; an intermediatevalve rocker; and a pair' of intermediate hinged flaps moved .by thecontrolmeans on the carriage,

Intermediatevalve mounting means.The first 'inter- .mediate valve 1% ismounted at the starting end ofthe table beside the marginalvalve 82 onanother vertical plate 87 which is supported bythe horizontal bars '88.Like the marginal valve 82','it is positioned with its plunger ltiit atits top. 7

Intermediate valve rocker.This rocker 103is also the same as themarginal valve rocker 94 and is pivoted on a horizontal axis on. theplate 87 supporting the first intermediate valve 100. Like the rocker90, the intermediate rocker .103 carries a roller 91 at its top endwhich is movable to engage and depress'the plunger 100' of that J valve;In its normal vertical position, thetrocker 103 is in a neutralposition. Swinging the upper end of the rocker 103 outward of the tablemoves the valve 100 to its pressure position.

Intermediate hinged flaps. The rocker 193 is swung on its horizontalaxis by a pair 'of intermediate hinged fiapswhich include the centerflap 94, at'the starting end of the table, which is movable inwardly bycarriage con trols tomove the first intermediate valve 109 '110, apressure position and' a fourth hinged fiap'105 mounted at theshifting'end of the table for swinging by the carriage mounted controlsto return the first intermediate valve 160 to its exhaust position.

The fourth hinged flap 105 'issimilar to the other flaps 93 to 95,extends across the shifting end of the table and is hinged at-its upperedge to the posts 3 atthat end of; the table to swing on a horizontalaxis. ltis connectedv to the lower end of-the intermediate rocker'103,by a tie rod 106 having pivoted connections-at-itsopposite ends to theflap 105 and rocker 103, respectively; Swinging the flap 105 inwardly,counter-clockwise looking at'FIG. 15, swings the upper end oftherocker-103 inwardly and, if the valve 100 is in its pressureposition, moves the valve" 100 to its exhaust position-by moving theroller 91 of the rocker 103 awayfrom the valve plunger 100'."

THIRD OPERATING MEANS, I

The ,third operating means comprises: (1 a second intermediateraisingmeans operative, when energized, to raise the second intermediateleaf 22and operate the centering means associated therewith; (2) mattressshift-1 ing means operative, when energized one way to-shift a mattressfrom the first-offset position to the second position; and- (3) valvemeans arranged for actuation from the shiftingend of the table andoperative, when actuated, to energize the mattress shifting means oneway and, after. the mattress is shifted, to energize the secondintermediate raising means- 7 Second intermediate raising means-Thismeans includes: a second intermediate cylinder operably connected to thesecond intermediate leaf 22, which isthe movable intermediate .leafnearest the west side of the table; and a second intermediate centeringcylinder operably con fected to the centering means of the secondintermediate ear;

Second intermediate cylinder.This cylinder 108is similar to the firstintermediate cylinder 97"and likethe cylinder 97, is'connected by aseparable joint to a link 98' which is pivoted to the operating lever 27of the second intermediate leaf .22.. Applying air pressure to thecylinder 198 extends it to raise the leaf 22and ex- 13 hausting thecylinder retracts it and lowers the leaf 22.

Second intermediate centering cylinder.The second intermediate centeringcylinder 79" and its mounting on the second intermediate leaf 22 is thesame as the previously described centering cylinders 79 and 79'. Hence,it should ufiice to say that it is mounted on the underside of the leaf22 and is connected to the operating lever 71 of the flange 7d of thatparticular leaf by a link 8%. The extension of the cylinder 79 by theapplication of air pressure thereto raises the flange 76 and retractingit by exhausting it lowers the flange 7%.

Mattress shifting means-The mattress shifting means is operative, whenenergized one way, to swing the west marginal leaf 16 from its outwardlyslanted position to an inwardly slanted position and, through suchmovement, cause the west marginal leaf 1% to push the mattress to itssecond offset position, said shifting means being operative, whenenergized another way to return the west marginal leaf 1t: to itsoutwardly slanted position. The mattress shifting means inclu es adouble acting shifting cylinder 11% connected to the operating lever 73of the west marginal leaf 16.

Looking at PEG. 13, the cylinder 11%} is vertically mounted below thelever 73 with the lower end of the cylinder housing pivoted on adepending bracket fixed to the table frame 9. The outer end of itspiston rod is pivoted to the lever 73.

Extension of the cylinder 11% swings the west side marginal leaf 16upwardly through its mattress shitting movement and the vertical planeto an inwardly-extending upwardly-inclined position. Retracting thecylinder 11% returns the leaf 15 to its former outwardly-extendingupwardlydnclined position. Normally, the cylinder 11% is operated onlyafter the leaf 16 has been raised to its ohtwardly-extendingupwardly-inclined mattress cradling position.

As previously mentioned, the cylinder 11% is double acting. This meansthat it has an extension and and a retraction end and is moved in theextension and retraction directions by alternately applying air pressureto these ends. The speed of the movement of the cylinder 11% iscontrolled by metering or restricting the flow of air pressure appliedto it.

Valve means.The valve means comprises: a double acting reversing valvemeans operable, in its normal position, to deenergize the secondintermediate raising means and condition the shifting means forenergization one way to shift a mattress and, in another position, tocondition the shifting means for energization the other way to return itto its normal position and to condition the second intermediate raisingmeans for energization; means for moving the reversing valve from itsnormal position to the other position at the end of the shiftingmovement and for returning it to its normal position when the carriagereturns to the starting end of the table; and a second intermediatevalve means operable to neutral and second positions and operative, inits neutral position, to deenergize both the second intermediate raisingmeans and the mattress shifting means, said second intermediate valvemeans arranged for actuation from the shifting end of the table to itssecond position and operative, when actuated, to energize the mattressshifting means and, at the end of the mattress shifting operation, toenergize the second intermediate raising means, and arranged for returto its neutral position from the starting end of the table.

Reversing valve means-The reversing valve means comprises a valve 112having a fluid pressure inlet and two fluid pressure outlets and beingmovable between a normal shifting position and an operating position. Inthe normal shifting position, as seen in EEG. 18, it conditions themattress shifting means for the mattress shifting operation anddeenergizes the second intermediate raising means by connecting theextension end side of the double acting shifting cylinder 116 to itsfiuid pressure inlet so that it may be energized in the mattressshifting direction and by exhausting the retraction end of the shiftingcylin der along with the second intermediate raising means. In its otheror operated position, it reverses its fiuid pressure and exhaustconnections with the mattress shifting means and the second intermediatemeans and thereby conditions the mattress shifting cylinder forenergization in the return direction and the second intermediate raisingmeans for energization in the raising direction.

Looking at FIG. 18, the valve 112 is connected, at its pressure inlet,to a second intermediate air line 113, at one of its outlets, to anextension air line 114 running to the extension end of the mattressshifting cylinder 116) and, at its other outlet, to a retraction airline 115 which runs to the retraction end of the cylinder 11%, to thesecond intermediate cylinder 1&8 and to the second intermediatecentering cylinder 79". The valve 112 has an internal chamber, alsodesignated 1'12, holding a shuttle 1:12 which slides back and forthalternately over the outlets connected to the air lines 114 and 115. Thecasing of the valve 112 also includes an exhaust port located betweenthe outlets. in each position of the shuttle 112, the chamber :112 isconnected with one outlet while the other outlet is connected to theexhaust port, with the connections to the outlets being reversed inalternate positions of the shuttle.

The reversing valve 112 is a conventional pneumatic valve having aninternal pneumatic valve moving means controlled by remotely locatedpneumatic switches for moving it between alternate positions and is soldunder the trade name Meadmatic by the Mead Specialties Co., Chicago,Illinois.

Reversing valve moving means-The reversing valve moving means comprises:means providing first and second actuating chambers normally subject tobalanced fluid pressures and formed by means including a piston movableone way or the other in response to pressure diiferentials between saidchambers acting in one direction and the other, said piston beingconnected to move the reversing valve correspondingly between its normalshifting and operating positions; first switch means, positioned to beactuated at the end of the mattress shifting movement, to unbalance thepressure differential in a direction causing the piston operated valveto move from its normal position to its operated position; and secondswitch means, positioned to be actuated as the second intermediate valvemeans is returned to its neutral position, from the starting end of thetable, to unbalance the pressure differential in the other dilection toreturn the piston operated reversing valve to its normal position.

First and second actuating chambers-These chambers are located andformed at the opposite ends of a free piston 117 reciprocating in acylinder bore provided in the casing of the valve 112. As seen in HS.18, the left actuating chamber is designated 118 and the right chamberis designated 119.

The free piston 117 includes a small passage 117 extending axiallybetween its ends which normally allows the air pressure in the twoactuating chambers 11S and 119 to be balanced. However, this passage 117is too small for a suddenly applied diiferential of pressure between thetwo chambers 118 and 119 to immediately balance. Hence, if one chamber,say 118, is suddenly exhausted, the air pressure in the other chamber119 biases the piston 117 to the left in the direction of chamber 118.

The piston 117 is connected to the valve shuttle 112' for movementtherewith by a stem which is tiixed on the shuttle and loosely seats ina radial hole in the piston 117. This radial hole communicates with thepassage 117 and allows air pressure to flow from the main chamher 112 ofthe valve through this radial hole and the passage 117 into the twoactuating chambers 118 and 119 With the shuttle 112 in its normalshifting position, as seen in FIG. 18, the shuttle 112' and piston 117are positioned to the right and the exhaustion of the left actuatingchamber 118 will result in the air pressure in the right 15 chamber 119moving the shuttle 112' totheleft to its operating position. To reversethe valve, it is only necessary to exhaust the right chamber 119 and theair pressure in the leftchamber 11-8 moves the piston 117 and shuttle112' to the right, returning the valve 112 to its normal shiftingposition.

First switch means-This means is actuated at the end of the mattressshifting movement to exhaust the left actuating chamber 118 and causethe valve 112 to move from its normal shifting position to its operatingposition. This means is a first vent valve .121 connected by a hose tothe left actuating chamber 118 and mounted on the table where it isengaged and opened by a cam 122 mounted on the piston rod of themattress shifting cylinder 110, at the end of its extension movement.The vent valve 121 is a conventional valve having a plunger 121' whichis biased outward to a closed position and is opened simply bydepressing the plunger inward. When open, the valve exhausts theleftactuating chamber 118 of the reversing valve 112.

Second switch means;This means is actuated at the end of the mattresssewing operation, with the carriage at the starting end of the table, toexhaust the right actuating chamber 119 and move the valve 112 to theright to its normal shifting position. connected by a hose to the rightactuating chamber 119 and located on the table over the intermediaterocker 103 V to be opened momentarily by its roller 91 as it rocksclockwise, as seen in FIG-l8, to its neutral position. This momentaryopening of the second vent valve 123 returns the valve shuttle 112toward the right to its normal' shifting position and resets the valve112 for another mattress sewing operation.

Second inlermediazevalve means.-'fhe second inter: mediate valve meansincludes: a second intermediate valve controlling the application of airpressure to the reversing valve 112;and a valve operating assembly foroperating the second" intermediate valvethrough control means mounted onthe carriage.

Second intermediate -valve.'1'he second intermediate valve 125 ismovable between exhaust and pressure posi-- tions'and is arrangedforactuation, from the shifting end of the table, to its pressure positionwherein it feeds air pressure to the'inlet of thereversing valve 112,which is.

in its normal shifting position, to effect thev energization of themattress shifting means to shift the mattress and, at the end of themattress shifting operation, return the mattress shiftingmeans to itsformer position and also effect the energizationof the secondintermediate raising means. It is returned to itsexhaust position at theend of the mattress sewing operation with the carriage at the a startingend of the table.

7 The second'intermediate valve 125 is connectedon one side to thesupplyair line 84 and on itsother side.

to thesecond intermediate air line 113 running to the reversing valve112. It includes a plunger 125' which is normally biased outward totheexhaust position of the valve and is movable inwardly to the pressureposition, the same as the first intermediate valve 109.

- Valve operating assembly-This assembly is the same as the intermediatevalve operating assembly'operating the first intermediate valve 169. :Infact, the second intermediatevalve 125 is located in the same casingthat houses the first intermediate valve 100. Together, the two valves1G0 and 125' form a double acting valve operated by the intermediaterocker 103 which is movable from a neutral position, with its roller 91located between the'two plungers 160' and 125' of the two valves,alternately' to either side'of the neutral position to move the twovalves to their pressure positions alternately. Swinging the rocker 103,as seen-in FIG. 15, clockwise from its neutral position moves the firstintermediate valve 100 to its pressure position and swinging itcounterclockwise moves the second intermediate valve 125 to its pressureposition. a

It is a second vent valve 123.

The second intermediate valve 125 is normally moved to its pressureposition from the shifting end of the table'at by swinging the fourthflap inwardly of the table-to rock the rocker Illicounterclockwisefrom-a position wherein its roller'91 depresses the first intermediatevalve.

100 to a position wherein it depresses the second intermediate valve125.

The second intermediate valve is normally moved to its exhaust position,with the carriage at the starting.

end of the table at the end of the sewing operation, by swinging theupper flap 93 inwardly in conjunction with the inward swinging of thecenter flap 94. These two flaps engage and swing the intermediate rocker103- to a neutral vertical position asseen in FIG. 15. At the same time,they also swing the marginal rocker 90 to its neutral vertical position,thus also moving the marginal valve This movement of the. intermediaterocker 103. also momentarily opens the second vent valve 123 to returnthe reversing valve 112 to its normal mattress shifting position.

The second vent valve 123 is mounted above the roller.

91 of the intermediate rocker 103 approximately midway between itsneutral position and theplunger 125, so that the roller 91 opens thevent valve 123 as it is withdrawn from the plunger 125', before thatplunger is entirely raised. In other Words, the event valve 123 shouldbe closed when the rocker roller 91 is depressing the plunger 125' itsfull extent, but should be opened as the plunger 125' raises and beforethe valve 125 is moved to its full exhaust position. The properoperating point for the vent valve 123 is found by moving ithorizontally toward and away from the plunger 125' until the properoperation of the apparatus results.

Carriage Mounted Control M cans The carriage mounted control means forselectively operating the first, second and third operating meanscomprises: (1) first actuating means for actuating, from the secondoperating means from its neutral position to its' first position so asto raise the first intermediate leaf 24 and activate theassociatedcentering means: (3) thirdv actuating means for actuating, from theshifting end of the table, the first and second intermediate valve meansof the second and third operating means, the first intermediate valvemeans being operated from its first position to its neutral position soas to 10WI the first intermediate leaf 24- and inactivate the associatedcentering means,

and the second intermediate valve means being actuated from its neutralposition to its second position to energize the mattressshifting meansone way and thereby] shift the mattress from its first ofi'set positionto its second offset position, and, upon the completion of the mattressshift and the movement of the valve reversing means to itsv otheroperated position, to raise the second intermedi ate leaf 22 andactivate the associated centeringmeans;

' and (4) fourth actuating means for actuating, from the; starting endofthe table, the marginal valve means and the secondintermediate valvemeans to return them to neutral positions and thereby drop the marginalleaves 14 to 17, the second intermediate leaf 22 and the associatedcentering means, the reversing valve means being also returned by thissame means to its normal mattress shifting position wherein it is readyfor another mattress sewing cycle.

FIRST ACTUATING MEANS The first actuating means operates the marginalrocker 99 to move the marginal valve 82 to its pressure position andraise the marginal leaves 14 to 17. This may be accomplished by swingingeither the center =fiap 94 or the lower flap 95 inwardly to engage andswing the rocker 99. Which flap is tilted depends on whether theoperator also wants to operate the intermediate rocker 103. Tilting thecenter fiap 94 operates both the rockers 99 and 103 while tilting thelower flap 95 operates only the marginal rocker 90, due to theprojection 96 carried by the lower flap 95 at a position where itengages and operates the rocker 90 without the lower flap operating theother rocker 163.

The carriage includes a series of four pedals located on itsoperator-supporting platform 5A. Looking at FIG. 14, these pedalsinclude, from left to right, a first pedal 127, a second pedal 128, athird pedal 129 and a fourth pedal 13%. Only the first three pedals 127to 129 operate the flaps. The fourth pedal 136 controls the main motorclutch of the carriage, this clutch being engaged by releasing the pedal13%) in a manner similar to an automobile clutch.

With the carriage at the starting end of the table, the second pedal 12%tilts the center flap 9 and it does this, when depressed, by extending ahorizontal rod 131 slidably mounted on the platform 5A outwardly toengage the center flap 94 and swing it inwardly of the base. The rod 131is extended by cam engagement with the second pedal 128. A springretracts the rod 131.

Also with the carriage at the starting end of the table, the third pedal129 tilts the lower flap 95 by extending another horizontal rod 132,when depressed. The rod 132, like rod 131, is extended by cam engagementwith the third pedal 129 and is retracted by a spring. The maindifference between the rods 131 and 132 is that the operative end of rod131 strikes the center flap 94 and the end of rod 132 strikes the lowerflap 95.

SECOND ACTUATING MEANS With the carriage at the startin end of thetable, the second actuating means tilts the center flap 94 to operatethe intermediate rocker 153 and move the first intermediate valve 16% toits pressure position to raise the first intermediate leaf 24. Thismeans is a part of the first actuating means and includes the secondpedal 128 and its operating rod 131 which, when extended, tilts thecenter flap 94.

THIRD ACTUATIN G MEANS With the carriage at the shifting end of thetable, the third actuating means tilts the fourth flap 1% inwardly toswing the intermediate rocker 193 counter-clockwise, as seen in 1 16.15, moving the first intermediate valve to its exhaust position, to dropthe first intermediate leaf 24, and then moving the second intermediatevalve 125 to its pressure position. This means is also the same as thefirst and second actuating means and includes the second pedal 128 andits rod 131 or, alternately, the third pedal 129 and its rod 132. Thefourth flap 155 is made wide enough for either of the rods 131 or 132 tostrike and tilt it.

FOURTH ACTUATING MEAN S With the carriage at the starting end of thetable, the fourth actuating means tilts both the upper flap 93 and thecenter flap 9 inwardly to return both the rockers 9i} and 103 to theirneutral positions. This means includes the first pedal 127 which swingsat bell-crank 134, pivoted on the carriage, inwardly to strike and tiltthe upper flap 93, and the second pedal 128 and its rod 131 which tiltsthe center flap 94. The bell-crank 134 is retracted by a spring. One ofits arms extends under the first pedal 127 to provide the operativeconnection between the two elements.

The first pedal 12 7 includes a tongue 135, projecting over the secondpedal 12 This tongue 135 depresses the second pedal 128 with the firstpedal 127 when the first pedal is depressed. Hence, the fourth actuatingmeans is operated simply by depressing the first pedal 127.

18 OPERATION Prior to the start of the operation, we assume that all ofthe table leaves 14 to 17, 22 and 24 are down in their horizontalpositions, providing the table top with a completely fiat upper surface,the sewing machine 6 and carriage 5 are located along the starting endof the table and that the apparatus is supplied with all necessarypower, including electrical power and air pressure.

The operation of closing a full size mattress 55 is described first. Inclosing the double mattress 55, only the marginal leaves 14 to 17 areraised. The mattress, ready for closing, is laid on the table in anapproximately centered position with the loose top face cover panel 59on top of the mattress. The marginal leaves 14 to 17 are raised by theoperator depressing the pedal 129 to push the rod 132 inwardly, tilt thelower flap inwardly, rock the lower end of the rocker 90 inwardly anddepress the marginal valve plunger 82', thus moving the marginal valve82 to its pressure position. Air pressure flows through the marginal airline 85 to the marginal cylinder 75 and the marginal centering cylinders79 mounted on the marginal leaves.

The extension of the marginal cylinder 75 rotates the spoked wheel 36counter-clockwise, looking at FIG. 11, to push the secondary links 37 to46 outwardly and swing the marginal leaves upwardly, raising the bottomface margins of the mattress with its center sagging. Simultaneously,the extension of the marginal centering cylinders 79 raises thecentering flanges 7%) on the marginal leaves to a vertical positionwhere they engage and surround the vertical edge margins of themattress. if the mattress is not centered on the table, the raising ofthe flanges 71) will force it to a centered position on the marginalleaves.

The operator pulls the adjacent edges of the top face panel 59 and theborder panel 57 of the mattress cover into the sewing head 6, clamps thesewing head jaws on these edges and proceeds to close the mattress 55 byoperating the carriage and sewing machine to travel clockwise, as seenin FIGS. 9 and 18, around the table from the starting end back to thestarting end. This operation of the carriage is normally performed byoperating the clutch pedal in conjunction with an electrical switchenergizing the carriage drive means.

After completing the closing of the mattress stopping the carriage 5once again at the starting end of the table, and unclamping the sewinghead from the mattress, the operator depresses the first pedal 127 todrop the marginal leaves. Because of the tongue overhanging the secondpedal 128, the depression of the pedal 127 also depresses the pedal 128,resulting in moving the bell-crank 134 inwardly to swing the upper flap93 inwardly and moving the rod 131 inwardly to swing the center flap 94inwardly. Swinging both the upper end center flaps 93 and 94 inwardlyrocks the rocker 90 to its neutral vertical position, moving the valve82 to exhaust position, whereby the marginal cylinder 75 and centeringcylinders 79 on the marginal leaves are retracted. The spoked wheel 36is returned and the marginal leaves 14 to 17 and their centering flanges7% are dropped. The closed mattress 5 is then removed from the table andthe apparatus is ready to receive another mattress.

The operation of closing a smaller or undersize mattress 65 is nextdescribed. In this operation, all of the table leaves are used. Theundersize mattress 65, ready for closing, is laid on the table with itswestern edge lying generally along the west side of the table. With thecarriage 5 at the starting end of the table, the marginal leaves 1 1 to17 and the first intermediate leaf 24 are raised by the operatordepressing the second pedal 128 to swing the center flap 94 inwardly.The lower ends of both of the rockers 9d and 163 are swung inwardly bythe center flap 94 and both the marginal valve 32 and the firstintermediate valve are moved to pressure positions. This movement of themarginal valve 82 raises the marginal leaves 14 to 17 and theircentering flanges 70, as previously described in connection with thefull siz e'mattress closing operation. The first "intermediate valve 106admits pressure to the first intermediate air line 1 01 to extend thefirst intermediate cylinder 97 of the first intermediate leaf 24 and thefirst intermediate centering cylinder 79' on that leaf, resulting in thera1sing of both that leaf and its centering flange 76 The mattress 65 isnow cradled and centered in a sagging po-. sition between the marginalleaves 14 to 16 and the first intermediate leaf 24.

The sewing head 6 is clamped on the adjacent cover edges of the mattressand the operator sews clockwise around themattress until he reaches theshifting end of the table. Somewhere along the shifting end or" thetable, the operator stops the carriage and disconnects the sewing headfrom the carriagedrive means, by a clutch, so that further movement ofthe carriage 5 will not drive the sewing head. i

The operation of shifting the mattress from the West side of the tahleto the east side is then performed by simultaneously depressing thepedal 128, or the pedal 129, and operating the carriage forwardly alongthe shifting end of thetable. The depression of one of the pedals 128 or129 at the shifting end of the table swings the fourth flap 105 inwardlyto push the tie rod 1% toward the startingend of the table and rock'theintermediate rocker 103 to its opposite position, exhausting the valve1%: and moving the second intermediate valve 125 to its pressureposition.

Exhausting the first intermediate valve 1% exhausts thefirstintermediate cylinder 97 for the first intermediate leaf '24 andits centering cylinder 79', causing that leaf and its centering flange70' to drop. Simultaneously, the second intermediate valve 125 feeds airpressure through the second intermediate airline 113 to thereversingvalve 112, which is positioned in its normal shifting position to feedpressurfe'through the extension air line 114 to the extension and of themattress shifting cylinder 110'. The extension of the mattressshiftingcylinder 110 swings the west marginal leaf -16 upwardly through thevertical plane to push the mattress 65 'to the east side of the table.

At the end of the extension of the cylin'derillfi, its cam 122 opens thefirst vent valve 121, causing the revers ing valve 112 to move to itsoperating position andfeed pressure to the retraction m'r line 115. Thissimultaneously retracts the mattress shifting cylinder 11 returing thewest marginal leaf'16 to its former outwardly inclined positin, -andextends the second intermediate cylinder 108 for the second intermediateleaf 22 and its centering cylinder 79", raising both that leaf and itscentering flange 79. The mattress is now cradled and centeredin asagging position on the marginal leaves 14, 15 and '17, and the secondintermediate leaf 22.

During the shifting of the mattress, the operator drives the carriage atthe same speed that the mattress moves. l lence, the sewing head remainsstationary relative to the mattress during its shifting. The operatorstops the carriage at thefcompletion of the mattress shifting movement,re-engag'es the sewing head with the carriage drive and proceedsto'finishlthe mattress closing operation, stopping atthe'sta'r'ting end ofthe table. r

Hethen disengages the mattress from the sewing head and drops all of thetable leaves by depressing the first pedal 127 to move the rockers 9tand 103 to their neutral positions. Moving the rocker 9% to its neutralposition drops themar'ginal leaves 14 to 17 as previously described intheido'uble mattress closing operation. Moving the rocker 183 to itsneutral position moves the 7 second intermediate valve 125 to exhaustposition to exliaust pressure from the reversing valve 112, the secondintermediate cylinder 108 and the centering cylinder 79" of the secondintermediate leaf 22, causing that leaf and its centering flange 74} todrop. The same movement of the rocker'lfili momentarily opens the secondvent valve 1231s reset'the'revers'ing valve 112 in its normal shiftingMODIFICATIONS OF FlGS. 1 921 These figures show a modified mattressshifting means i using a mechanical linkage operated by the movement ofthe carriage to swing the west marginal leaf 16 through its mattressshifting movement. This means includes: a linkage; and a carriagemounted abutment means.

Linkage The mattress shifting linkage is mounted on the table frame 9along the shifting end of the table, under the north marginal leaf 15,and operates a lever 137 fixed to the underside of the West marginalleaf 16 near the north end of the table. The linkage comprises: a crank138 journaled on a horizontal axis extending in a north-south planethrough the. table; a gear 13h rotated by the crank 138; a horizontalrack 14h slidably mounted on the frame 9 to extend in an east-west planeof the table and driven by the gear 139; and a link 141 connecting thewest end of the rack 14% to the lever 137. Rotating the crank 138clockwise, looking at FIG. 19, pushes the rack 14%) and link 141 to thewest, as shown in dotted lines, to raise the west marginal leaf 16through its mattress shifting move ment.

Carriage Abutment Means as seen in FIG. 19, as it is carried past thecrank by the I carriage and the west marginal leaf 16 will swing throughits mattress shifting movement. During the shifting of a mattress, theoperator will disconnect the drive of the sewing head 6 by a suitableclutch and the shifted speed of the mattress will be e'qual'to thecarriage speed.

EXPANDED SCOPE OF INVENTION While all aspects of the present. inventionmaybe fully utilized in a mattress sewing table of the described type,it will be appreciated that it is within the scope of this invention toprovide the tableleaves, the mattress shifting means and the mattresscentering means with other types of movements, other than hingedmovements.

For example, these members could be moved b o'dily,

rather than simply being swung about a fixed pivot, in either a purelysliding motion or a combination sliding and swinging motion.

It will also be appreciated that the mattress centering and shiftingfeatures and the other'features involved in the second aspect of thisinvention are applicableto mattress edge sewing machines generally,rather. than simply being limited tothose tables employing means forelevating the margins of a mattress. 'lfiorv example, the mattresscentering and shifting features of this invention may be advantageouslyemployed in tape edge, roll edge and other types of mattress edge sewingmachines conventionally comprising: a mattress supporting table; acarriage mounted on the table for movement around its periphery; asewingmachine mounted on the carriage; and carriage mounted drive means formoving the carriage and operating the sewing machine.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A table for supporting amattress during the operation of closing its partly formed covercompr'ising:

a mattress supporting table structure including a table top havinghorizontally spaced members arranged to engage oppositely disposedmargins of a mattress resting on said top; means mounting said memberson said table structure for movement to a relatively elevated positionwherein they cooperate to support said mattress with all of its marginselevated and its center portion sagging; a sewing machine and carriagemounted on said table structure for movement around said table top;operating means mounted on said table structure for operation, whenactuated, to move said mattress-support members to said elevatedposition, and means for actuating said table mounted operating means.

2. The table of claim 1 wherein: said members include a leaf hinged tosaid table top; and said operating means includes a fluid operatedcylinder operably connected to said leaf for elevating it.

3. The table of claim 1 wherein: said means for actuating said tablemounted operating means includes control means mounted on said carriagefor movement therewith.

4. The table of claim 3 wherein said traveling carriage includes asupport for the operator of said control means; and said control meansincludes a foot pedal mounted on the carriage for operation at the willof said operator.

5. The table of claim 1 including: centering means mounted on said tablestructure for movement, when actuated, from an out-of-the-way positionto a mattress centering position, said centering means being operative,during said movement, to engage the peripheral border of a mattress onthe table and, through such engagement, move it into a centeredposition; table-mounted means for operating said centering means, saidoperating means being operative, when actuated, to move said centeringmeans to said mattress centering position; and means for actuating thesaid operating means for said centering means.

6. The table of claim 5 wherein: said centering means includes acentering element movably mounted on one of said horizontally spacedmembers; and said operating means for said centering means includesmeans for moving said centering element to its mattress centeringposition simultaneously with the elevating movement of its member.

7. The table of claim 6 wherein: said centering element is hingedlymounted on said one member for swinging movement between itsout-'of-the-way position and its centering position in which it extendsupwardly from said member.

8. The table of claim 5 wherein: said means for actuating said operatingmeans for said centering means includes control means mounted on saidcarriage for movement therewith.

9. The table of claim 1 including: shifting means mounted on said tablestructure for shifting movement, when actuated, from a first position toa second position, said shifting means being arranged to engage amattress during such movement and, through such engagement, urge itacross the table from one offset position to the other; table-mountedmeans for operating said shifting means, said operating means beingoperative, when actuated, to move said shifting means from said firstposition to said second position; and means for actuating said operatingmeans for said shifting means.

10. The table of claim 9 wherein: said shifting means includes ashifting leaf hinged to said table structure for movement between saidfirst and second positions; and said operating means for said shiftingmeans includes a fluid operated cylinder mounted on the table structurefor swinging said leaf between said positions.

-1l. The table of claim 10 wherein: said operating means for saidshifting means includes means operative, in response to the arrival ofsaid shifting leaf at said second position, to reverse the movement ofsaid shifting leaf.

12. The table of claim 9 wherein: said means for actu- =ating saidoperating means for said mattress-support members, and for said shiftingmeans includes control means mounted on said carriage for movementtherewith.

13. The table of claim 9 including: centering means mounted on saidtable structure for movement, when actuated, from an out-of-the-wayposition to a mattress centering position, said centering means beingoperative, during said movement, to engage the peripheral border of amattress on the table and, through such engagement, move it into acentered position; table-mounted means for operating said centeringmeans, said operating means being operative, when actuated, to move saidcentering means to said mattress centering position; and means foractuating said operating means for said centering means.

14. The table of claim 13 wherein: each of the actuating means foractuating the table-mounted operating means for said mattresssupportmembers, said centering means and said shifting means includes controlmeans mounted on the carriage for movement therewith and for selectiveoperation at the will of the operator.

15. The table of claim 14 wherein: the table structure has a startingend and a shifting end; the table-mounted operating means for saidmattress-support members and said centering means is arranged foractuation from said carriage at the starting end of the table; and saidcontrol means is operable at the starting end of the table for actuatingthe operating means for said members and said centering means.

16. The table of claim 14 wherein: the table structure has a startingend and a shifting end; the table-mounted operating means "for saidshifting means is arranged for actuation from said carriage at theshifting end of the table; and said control means is operable at theshifting end of the table for actuating the operating means for saidshifting means.

17. The table of claim 14 wherein: the table structure has a startingend and a shifting end; the several tablemounted operating means, whichoperate said means for shifting a mattress from said one side of thetable to the other side thereof and for supporting and centering it onsaid other side are mounted on the table for actuation from saidcarriage at the shifting end of the table; and said control means foractuating said several table-mounted operating means is operable at theshifting end of the table.

18. A table for supporting a mattress during a sewing operationcomprising: a mattress supporting table structure including a table topadapted to receive the mattress to be sewn in a position in which themattress is approximately centered for the institution of the sewingoperation; centering means mounted on the table structure for movement,when actuated, from an out-of-the-way position to a mattress centeringposition, during which movement it engages the peripheral border of themattress and, through such engagement, urges it into a centeredposition; means for operating said centering means, said operating meansbeing operative, when actuated, to move said centering means to saidmattress centering position; and means for actuating said operatingmeans for said centering means.

19. A table for supporting a mattress during the mattress sewingoperation comprising: a supporting structure; a table top supported onsaid structure, said top being adapted to provide a support for amattress which is offset to one side of said table during a sewingoperation on that side and to the opposite side of said table during asewing operation on said opposite said; shifting means mounted on saidtable for shifting movement, when actuated, from a first position to asecond position, during which it operatively engages a mattress and,through such engagement, urges it across the table from one offsetposition to the other; means for operating said shifting means, saidoperating means being operative, when actuated, to move said shiftingmeans from said first position to said second position; and means foractuating said operating means for said shifting means.

23 20. A table forsupporting a mattress during the coverclosingoperation, comprising:

A. 'a supporting structure; I B. a tabletop supported on said structure;

C. horizontally-spacedmovable sections supported on V 21. The tableof'claim 20 wherein:

A. said movable mattress-supporting sections form a least part of saidtable top;and include marginal sections providing oppositely-disposedmargins of said table top.

,22; The table of claim 21 wherein:

A. said oppositely-disposed marginal sections provide side margins andend margins of said table top.

23. The table of claim 21 for use in supporting a large size of mattressand a smaller size of mattress,

wherein:

A. said movable sections also include one intermediate table top sectionintersposed' between said marginal sections;

' B. said marginal sections cooperate, when elevated, "to provide asupport for holdinga large mattress-in'one position; and

C. said one intermediate-section and (meet said "margin-al sectionscooperate, when elevated,itoprovide a support for holding a smallermattress in a second position.

24."The table of claim 23 wherein:

A. said r nova'ole sections also mediate table top sectioninterposedbetween said marginal sec'tionsjand V V B. said otherintermediate'section and the otherofi said marginal sectionscooperatefwhen elevated, to provide" a' s'npport 'for holding said"smaller mattress in a third position.

"References Cited in the "file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS810,882 Phel s 18.11.23, 1906 1,892,203 Burton et'a1 DEC. 27,19321,898,497 Roberti Feb.21, 1933 1,947,058 Pittoni Feb. 13, 1934 1,979,901Perlesz Nov; 6, 1934 2,177,169 BIOWII Oct. 24,1939 2,869,493 SeavertJan. 20,1959 2,918,884 Kalninget al Dec. 29, 1959 2,925,057 Cash Feb;16, 1960 include another inter-

1. A TABLE FOR SUPPORTING A MATTRESS DURING THE OPERATION OF CLOSING ITSPARTLY FORMED COVER, COMPRISING: A MATTRESS SUPPORTING TABLE STRUCTUREINCLUDING A TABLE TOP HAVING HORIZONTALLY SPACED MEMBERS ARRANGED TOENGAGE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED MARGINS OF A MATTRESS RESTING ON SAID TOP;MEANS MOUNTING SAID MEMBERS ON SAID TABLE STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT TO ARELATIVELY ELEVATED POSITION WHEREIN THEY COOPERATE TO SUPPORT SAIDMATTRESS WITH ALL OF ITS MARGINS ELEVATED AND ITS CENTER PORTIONSAGGING; A SEWING MACHINE AND CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON SAID TABLE STRUCTUREFOR MOVEMENT AROUND SAID TABLE TOP; OPERATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAIDTABLE STRUCTURE FOR OPERATION, WHEN ACTUATED, TO MOVE SAIDMATTRESS-SUPPORT MEMBERS TO SAID ELEVATED POSITION, AND MEANS FORACTUATING SAID TABLE MOUNTED OPERATING MEANS.